'Like my lover': Chinese users bid farewell to AI companions

Chinese users of artificial intelligence-powered companion bots have bid heart-rending farewells to their virtual buddies as national regulations took effect on Wednesday (Jul 15) aimed at curbing the risk of emotional dependency.

The phenomenon of AI boyfriends and girlfriends is growing worldwide, along with the prevalence of human-like avatars that sell products or stand in for loved ones who have died.

But these interactive tools must not "excessively cater to users, induce emotional dependence or addiction, and damage users' real interpersonal relationships", China's new rulebook says.

Major AI providers including ByteDance's Doubao, Alibaba's Qwen, and Tencent's Yuanbao announced the suspension of their custom AI agent and companion features ahead of the Wednesday deadline.